Which Defense Equipment Does the Philippines Need the Most?
As tensions in the West Philippine Sea continue to rise, the question of which defense equipment the Philippines needs most has become more urgent than ever. With limited resources and an increasingly aggressive regional environment, Manila must focus on investments that deliver the greatest deterrent power for every peso spent. The answer lies not in buying the most advanced weapons, but in sequencing defense priorities according to the nation’s geography, threat perception, and budget realities.
1. Strategic Logic: Why Sequencing Matters
The Philippines is a nation of more than 7,000 islands. Unlike continental powers that rely on tanks or artillery, the country’s security depends on control of its maritime spaces. Any credible defense strategy must therefore begin with Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and Coastal Defense. Without round-the-clock surveillance, radar coverage, and rapid-response capacity, even the most modern ships or aircraft would be strategically blind.
The events at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal in 2024–2025 proved this point. China’s Coast Guard and maritime militia used saturation tactics—deploying multiple vessels to harass Philippine ships, install buoys, and establish de facto control. The Philippines often found itself reacting after the fact, rather than shaping the situation in real time. The lesson is clear: you cannot defend what you cannot see.
2. Top Defense Priorities for the Philippines
A. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and C4ISR Systems
At the top of the list are Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), long-endurance UAVs, coastal radar stations, and integrated command-and-control (C4ISR) networks. These systems provide the operational picture that allows commanders to cue interceptors, direct ships, and document Chinese incursions for diplomatic action. The target: achieve at least 70% coverage of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) within five years.
B. Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Corvettes, and Frigates
Next comes endurance and presence at sea. Modern OPVs, corvettes, and frigates equipped with advanced sensors and UAV support allow the Philippine Navy (PN) and Coast Guard (PCG) to patrol contested waters like Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands consistently. Ongoing projects with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), such as the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) and upcoming corvette program, mark the Philippines’ largest naval expansion in modern history.
C. Coastal Defense and Anti-Ship Missiles
The third layer is mobile coastal defense systems. Truck-mounted anti-ship missile batteries, supported by radar and satellite targeting, provide asymmetric deterrence against Chinese warships or militias. By investing in anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities, Manila can impose significant costs on any hostile force attempting to approach its coastline.
D. Airpower: Multirole Fighters and Air Defense
A credible air defense and strike capability comes next. The purchase of 12 new FA-50 light multirole fighters from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in 2025, valued at around US$700 million, enhances the Philippine Air Force (PAF) capability to contest airspace and support naval operations. Over time, the goal should be to integrate F-16-class fighters and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for layered protection.
E. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Maritime Patrol Aircraft
China’s expanding submarine presence in the South China Sea means the Philippines must also invest in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Additional ATR-72 MPAs, equipped with sonobuoys, dipping sonars, and ASW sensors, can help detect subsurface threats before they operate freely within Philippine waters.
F. Submarines: Long-Term but Strategic Goal
Submarines are a powerful deterrent, but they must come later—after the Philippines has established strong MDA, air cover, and coastal defense. Diesel-electric submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) could transform the country’s deterrence posture, but they require heavy investment in training, maintenance, and logistics. A phased roadmap is essential to avoid buying high-end platforms without sustainable support.
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3. Cross-Cutting Priorities: Cyber, EW, and Logistics
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has emphasized the importance of cyber defense, electronic warfare (EW), and space-based resilience. The Philippines must be able to operate in the information and electromagnetic domains as effectively as it does in the physical one. At the same time, logistics and sustainment are the foundation of readiness. Ships and aircraft are useless without spare parts, trained personnel, and dry-dock facilities.
4. Budget Context and Capability Growth
The 2025 National Defense Budget stands at ₱258–₱272 billion (US$4.6–5.2 billion) — the sharpest increase in over a decade. The Philippine Army still holds the largest share, but allocations to the Air Force and Navy are growing aggressively. This signals a historic shift toward external defense and maritime deterrence.
Major developments include:
BRP Miguel Malvar commissioning (Naval News, 2025)
FA-50 fighter expansion (Reuters, 2025)
U.S. Congressional proposal for US$2.5 billion in defense support for Manila
Combined with the EDCA expansion, Balikatan exercises, and trilateral patrols with Japan and Australia, the Philippines’ modernization is now part of a broader allied deterrence framework.
5. Case Studies: Lessons from the West Philippine Sea
In October 2025, China escalated again at Scarborough Shoal, deploying buoys and patrol rotations to cement its presence. Without persistent MPAs and UAVs, the Philippines struggled to document and respond quickly. However, the PCG’s UAV program and new ATR-72 MPAs are beginning to close that gap. These assets, paired with modern frigates and fighters, will allow Manila to respond in hours, not days.
6. Immediate and Mid-Term Priorities
Immediate (0–3 years):
Additional MPAs and long-endurance drones for 24/7 coverage.
Eight to twelve modern OPVs or patrol corvettes.
Mobile anti-ship missile batteries integrated with radar and satellite targeting.
Sustainment funding for spare parts, logistics, and maintenance.
Mid-Term (3–7 years):
Commission fully equipped frigates and corvettes with ASW suites.
Expand the FA-50+ fleet with AESA radars and advanced munitions.
Establish ASW doctrine with trained crews and sensors near key straits.
Long-Term (7+ years):
Develop a small fleet of diesel-electric submarines.
Build indigenous defense industry capacity for MRO, munitions, and shipbuilding.
7. Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1 (0–6 months): Finalize purchase lists for MPAs and UAVs, secure foreign military financing from allies, and establish radar/C2 nodes in Luzon, Palawan, and Visayas.
Phase 2 (6–24 months): Begin OPV and corvette deliveries, field mobile missile batteries, and integrate coastal radar networks.
Phase 3 (2–4 years): Commission new frigates, train MPA crews, and stockpile munitions.
Phase 4 (4–7 years): Operationalize ASW helicopters and complete feasibility reviews for submarine acquisition.
8. Training, Doctrine, and Allied Cooperation
Exercises like Balikatan, Sama-Sama, and Alon compress learning curves and improve interoperability with allies. Specialist training schools for ASW, cyber operations, coastal missiles, and MPA missions should be institutionalized. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) should also target sustainment skills, not just equipment purchases.
9. Risks and Red Lines
The biggest risk is over-investing in expensive platforms without funding maintenance. Another risk is China’s use of gray-zone tactics — such as buoy fields and blockades — that stop short of open conflict. The counter is persistent presence, documentation, and diplomatic amplification with allies.
10. Measuring Success
EEZ surveillance coverage: Aim for 70%+ within five years.
Response time: Less than six hours from detection to presence.
Days at sea: Increase PCG/PN presence in contested zones.
Readiness rates: Track ship and aircraft availability.
Fisherfolk safety reports: Fewer harassment incidents = effective deterrence.
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Conclusion: The Quickest Path to Credible Deterrence
The Philippines must prioritize Maritime Domain Awareness and Coastal Defense as the foundation of all modernization efforts. Invest first in MPAs, UAVs, coastal radars, and OPVs, then layer mobile missile systems and fighter aircraft. Secure training, logistics, and allied support to make modernization sustainable. This is the most realistic, cost-effective, and geopolitically sound path to credible deterrence in the West Philippine Sea and a more self-reliant Philippine defense posture.
